* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Ishida Castle (Fukue Castle)
石田城（福江城）
Ishida Castle (Fukue Castle) is a historic castle in the Kyūshū region (Construction began 1849 (Kaei 2); completed 1863 (Bunkyū 3)). Its lord was The Goto clan, lords of Fukue Domain.
Overview
Overview
Ishida Castle, also called Fukue Castle, stood in Ikeda-machi, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, as the seat of Fukue (Goto) Domain. One of the last castles completed in Japan at the very end of the Edo period, it is a rare sea-facing castle.
Construction
To prepare for the arrival of foreign ships, work began in 1849 and, after about fifteen years, was completed in 1863. Only about five years remained before the Meiji Restoration, so the castle's active role was brief.
Structure
It consisted of the main, second, and northern enclosures and was equipped with gun batteries. No tenshu was built; a two-story turret in the main enclosure is said to have served in its place. Using the sea as a natural moat, its layout reflects the coastal-defense concerns of late-Edo castles.
Lords
It was the castle of the Goto clan, lords of Fukue Domain. Construction is said to have been applied for and begun in the time of lord Goto Moriakira, with completion in the time of Morinori, but accounts differ on the lords' generational numbering, so details are omitted. A retirement residence for Moriakira was built in the second enclosure, and its garden is the Goto Clan Garden.
Present Condition
The castle was dismantled under the Meiji castle abolition decree. Gates, stone walls, and moats remain, and the site is a Nagasaki Prefecture Historic Site. The Goto Clan Garden on the second enclosure is a National Place of Scenic Beauty. It was selected as No. 187 of the Continuation of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan in 2017. It is about a 10-minute walk from Fukue Port.
Connection to Swords
No source tying the castle to a specific sword has been confirmed. As the castle of Fukue Domain, it formed part of the military preparations for coastal defense in the late Edo period.
Highlights
- Built 1849-1863, among the last castles completed in Japan
- A rare castle directly facing the sea
- No tenshu; a two-story turret served in its place
- The Goto Clan Garden is a National Place of Scenic Beauty
- No. 187 of the Continuation of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.